The Bahujan Samaj Party will not field any ‘mafia candidates’ with criminal records in next year’s assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
BSP supremo Mayawati on Friday announced that imprisoned gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari will not be given a party seat from Mau under the new policy. Bhim Rajbhar, BSP's UP president will contest from the seat.
The announcement comes days after Ansari's brother Sigbatullah Ansari joined the Samajwadi Party.
BSP said that its decision to shun Ansari and not field any ‘bahubali’ or criminal strongmen is an attempt by the party to change UP’s image alongside ensuring a rule of law.
Mayawati said that the decision will help to take strict action against such elements once BSP forms the government. She added that BSP would be known as the government that follows the philosophy of ‘sarvajan hitay and sarvajan sukhay'.